Heating



Nov. 2, 1943.

F. K. VAN ALMELO HEATING Filed April 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

I r1 QM 6. 2 4a; Mme/v5)! Nov. 2, 1943.

F. K. VAN ALMEL'O {HEATING Filed April 9, 1-941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ra i w Byywcw W Patented Nov. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES FATE-N T-I orries 1 Frederick Kunst van Almelo, Nassau, N. Y., assignor to Consolidated Car Heating Company, Inc., Albany, N. Y.',acorporation of New York Application April 9, 1941, Serial No. ssnsa-s 6 Claims. (01. 158- 28) duction of a device of the type specified which may heat air at greater than the surrounding atmospheric pressure, which air may be employed for space heating.

Further objects of the invention are the production of a device of the type specified in which liquid fuel under no greater pressure than at-' mospheric may be used; the fuel may be aug-.

mented in supply initially; the fuel may be vaporized at not greater than atmospheric pressure; and the entire device may be operated and controlled automatically.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiments selected to illustrate the invention progresses and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail and the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings and the several views thereon, in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic or schematic illus-. tration of an arrangement of heating apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmen tary elevational cross-sectional view of a vaporizer used in the invention; Fig.3 is a crosssectional view of the device as shown by Fig. 2. on the plane indicated by the line III-III, viewed in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the line; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device as shown by Fig. 2 on the plane indicated by the line IV-IV viewed in the direction of the arrows at the. ends of the line.

The arrangement, generally considered, is for the purpose of supplying heat, especially to a space to be heated, and is particularly applicable for heating the passenger and other space in an airplane.

The device, generally considered, in the particular embodiment shown, is arranged for heating by a current of warm air. The warm air is preferably suitably moved by a circulating fan and is warmed by heat exchange with a body heated by the impact and contactof heated gases produced by the combustion of a vaporizedliquid fuel, there being provided apparatus for vapori zing fuel and mixing air therewith.

The device further includes, generally speaking, suitable vaporizing and igniting mechanisms, suitable fuel pumping means, and suitable electric control circuits and devices whereby the arrangementis completely automatic in its operation.

In Figure 1, fuelsupply tank I is shown. The

fuel ispumped by pump 2 to a pipeline 3 which deliversit to a vaporizing device 4 over which a current of air is passed by means of a combustion air inlet duct 5/ The vaporized fuel is ignited by the spark plug Band burned at the burner plate 1. The heat generated by the burning beingcommunicated to heatv exchange ducts or combustion product ducts, preferably made in the form of metallic pipes 8 which exchange-the heat therein with a body of air passing through the duct 9 to the space to be heated. All of the various partsabove described are operated and controlled by electric circuits acting through the intermediary of relays, circuit controllers and thermostats.

Figure 1- shows all parts of the device and arrangement in the condition in which they would be if the spaceto be heated is below the temperature at which it is desired to keep the.

space. This is indicated by the thermostat l3 which is assumed to be within the space to be heated I4 and which communicates with the duct 9,

Under the conditions shown in Fig. 1, the thermostat l3, by its condition, demands that heat be supplied to the space M and under the conditions current may flow in a circuit as follows: from the positive terminal l5 of the source of electromotive force, current may travel by the wires l6 and H0 to a contact point l1, shown as connected by the bi-metallic member 18 to the contact point 19, and thence by wires 20 and M to the contact p0int 22- connected by the conducting metallic bridge 23 to contact point 24 and thence by wires 30 and 3| to electric motor Ill and thence to ground 32 by wire 33 and so back to the negative terminal of the source l5.

Current travelling in the above traced path will cause the motor III to rotate, operate the pump 2 anddraw liquid fuel from the supply tank I through the pipe II and deliver it to the pipe3 from whence it would pass through the restricted orifice I2 to a temporary reservoir 35.

The temporary reservoir 35v may be of any suitable or appropriate form but is preferably in the form of a hollow closed bellows or Sylphon, spring pressed by the expansion spring 36 bearing against one end of the bellows and at the other end against the other end of the yoke or cylinder 34.

When men iszpumped through the restricted orifice II at 'atime when the valve 31 is closed,

the fuel will flow into the temporary reservoir 35, compressing the spring 36 and expanding the bellows 35. At any rate, a volume of fuel will be built up and stored in the temporary reservoir 35 but this fuel cannot issue until electromagnet valve 31 is energized.

' In order to, at first, energize electroma n valve 31 and so let fuel pass to'etheipipe 38, and so to the burner plate I, it is first necessary to supply electrical energy to the auxiliary electric ,so that fuel stored in the temporary reservoir 7 amount of fluid through the restricted orifice l2 which is not sufficient to cause any pressure in Figs; 2, 3 and 4. Itincludes the supply pipe 33 heating coil for the purpose, of. heating the atmospheric air which is drawn in through :the duct 5 and passes overtheevaporizerl so :that the fuel will be well and properlyvaporized. The circuit for the-energizing of, auxiliary heating coil is as follows: positive terminal :of the source 15, wires l6 and ll0, contact point l'|,,bi-metallic bridge [8, contactpoi'nt l9, wires; 2.0 and.2l, con-- ducting bridge 23, wires. and Z6, contact point 21, conducting bridge 28, contact point 29, wires 30.1% and l 22 ,contactpoint 42 on thermostat MIL-conducting bridge 43 .ofgthe same vthermostat and contacting-point of the same thermostat which thermostat, under the conditions vas- Y sumd, ,that is, when air being drawn through theduct 5 iscold. is closed and makes a circuit therethrou gh and thence by'wire'45 to one terminal of the auxiliary electric heater 48 and then through the electric heater and thence by wire 46 to ground and the negative terminal of the source. a

Current travelling; in the :above traced path through-the auxiliary heater 40 :will heat this. electric heater and, consequently',;as the motor.

10 i s ,operating,-and driving theexhaust fan-" attached to its shaft 48, and as the exhaust fan 41 is positioned on a duct open to atmosphere and over the auxiliary electric heater 40 andthrough the vaporizer 4 and over the thermostat 56. A Under-the initial conditions, that is,

before heater .40 was energized, that is, when cold air was blowing overthermostat'56 the circuit therethrough was open but when air is heated by, reason ofcthe energizat-ion ofiauxiliary heater 4!), the heated airacts upon thermostat 56 and causes a bridge to be formed across the contacts thereinso that current will then flow in a circuit as follows: positive'terminal l5, wires I 6, 0, contact point l'l, metallic-bridge l8, contactpoint l9,.'wires 20, 2|, contacting point 22,.

conducting bridge 23, contact point 24,- wires 25 and 38, contact point 51 of thermostat 56, bridge 58 and contact point 59 and thenceby wires 60,

GI and; 62 to and throughheating coil 63' and wires 84 and 65, to electromagnet 88, controlling valve 31 and thence by wire 61 to ground and to thenegative terminal ,ofthe source.

Current flowing .in the last above traced path through the electromagneticvalveili ,will energize thatelectromagnet and=open the valve-.31

pipe 33 so that the fuel whichis delivered normally by pipe 33 is at atmospheric pressure.

"The vaporizing device 4 is shown in detail in and a series of shelves as 68. These shelves are. as best seen in Fig-3, positioned with a slight slant to. one side so that liquid which lands ithereon'will flow to the lower edge and thence over thatedge and to the next shelf below and so on. to the lowestshelf from whence it will flow into the overflow pipe HI to be returned in any desired way to the fuel tank I or other places.

The shelves are preferably provided with a flow obstructing device H thereon. This flow obstructing device is preferably a woven device and may well be ordinary wire screening and serves to prevent a too rapid flow of fuel from the'shelf.

.The ,shelves' also are provided with upstanding flangesv as'l2 which'act to prevent the flow of air fromblowing the fuel off the shelf.

When fuel from the pipe '33 falls upon the vaporizer 4 at a timewhen auxiliary heater 48 is heated and a current of air is flowing from the duct 5 through the vaporizer, the fuel will be vaporized-and will pass through the safety screen 13 into the, duct 53 and thence through the bumer plate 1 into the combustion chamber 52.

It is apparent-that when vaporized fuel issues from the burner plate I there must be means in the combustion chamber to ignite it. This ignition means is the spark plug 8 and the spark plug 6 is supplied with a high tension current in any suitable or appropriate-means, preferably from the secondary 14 of an induction coil of which the primary'is 15, having an iron core 16. The primary 15 is supplied with electrical energy from thesame wire 60 which was used to'supply energy to wire 6| to energize electromagnet 66 and the current flows from wire 60 through wire 11 to and through the primary 15 and to the vibrat ing armature l8, normally in contact with the contact point 19 which is connected by wire and 8lto ground 82 and so connected to the negative terminal of the source.

When the spark plug operates and combustible vapor is issued through the burner plate I, combustion takes place and hot gases are formed. Heat is communicated to the pipes 8 in passing therethrough and the gases after having parted with some of their best pass into the chamber 5| and thence by the duct 50 induced by the vacuum caused by the exhaust fan 4'! pass out through the discharge duct 49 to atmosphere.

Mounted on'the same shaft 48 as the exhaust fan 41 is the pressure fan 83 which draws atmospheric air through the opening 84 and dis-.

charges it at somewhat more than atmospheric pressure into the duct 85 arranged to embrace the tubes 8 so that the heat of said tubes will be communicated to the air passing thereover in therduct 85 and issue through 9 and so go to the space I 4 to be heated. v As the device continues in operation, gases asaaeoa drawn from duct 50 by fan 4;? and discharged: at 59- to the atmosphere are more an'd more heated and passing over thermostat 89 so actiupon that thermostat that the thermostatic element there in closes the circuit-therethroughso than-whereas up to that time thecurrent for energizing electromagnet 66 fiows from the wire BI- through wires2 and through heating coil: 63' and thenceto electromagnet 86, it maynow travel from'wire 'GI, through wire 01, contact point at, b idge s,

taken place in the chamber 52, it 'failedto doso, then thermostat 86 would not be heated, It would not, consequently, operate to close thecira: cuit therethrou'gh so that the cur-rent wouldfs'ti-ll" continue to flow through the heating coi1-631 If current continued to flow. through'the heating coil 63 a sufficient length' of time'itfwould'sufli; ciently heat bi-metallic member I8' so that it would curve upwardly as shown in dotted lines and the end thereof'would latch itself on the latch 92 breaking the circuit at'both the contact points I! and- I9. does not take place withina predetermined time and if thermostat 86 is ,not sufliciently heated within a predetermined time, the safety cut-out will operate and in operating willv cut off all enfergy from the positive terminal of the source I5} so that all parts cease to operate as hereinbeforej described and fuel is no longer supplied to the vaporizer 4 so that there can-be no danger of; a; large accumulation of fuel in a casewhere it is notproperly vaporized and properly burned and the heat thereof properly transmitted to the thermostat 86. If everything works properly, how ever, the device will continue to operate, as here-' inbefore described, supplying heated air to the space I4 which in time will cause the thermostat I3 to change its condition so that the mercury column 93 therein will connect the wires 94 and 96 which is a condition indicating that space Ilf is sufficiently heated and the heatershould'cease" functioning. The cessation of functioning of the parts as hereinbefore described when the mercury column 93 rises to the point where it connects with wire 96 is accomplished by the forming of electrical circuits which break the circuits hereinbefore described. The first circuit to be formed is as follows: positive terminal of the source I5, wires I0 and 96, mercury 93', wire 94, relay coil 91 and wires 98 and 99 to ground I00 and thence to the negative terminal or the source. Current travelling in the above traced path will energize the coil 91 and cause its core ID! to bring conducting bridge. I02 in contactwith contact points l03-and I04.

That is, ifproper combustion When I02 bridges the contact points illland I04 a circuit is formed as follows: positive terminal of the source, wires i6 and 95, contact point I03, conducting bridge I02, contact point I04,-

wire I05, circuit controller coil I06 and wire I01;-

I08, and 99 to ground I00 and thence to the'nega-- tive terminal of the source of potential. Current flowing in the above traced path will raise circuit controller core I09 and conducting bridges-23fand; 28 so that energy from the source will be cut off from all of the operating circuits hereinbefore described, so that the motor would stop operating 1 combustion chamber 52, the tubes 8;' a

chamber 5| is subeatmos heri'e an the 5 pr ssufre: r in duct 85 around to thediictiifand to M- is-s'uper if it depended solely upon the previously described 75 circuit, and; he spark plug? would also rgized it'depndedfuponf t scribed circuii'gbutf notwithstandin the previously described-i circuit for o if motor is broken atcont t nor '2 i;

will continue to: operate 'T I v venge all or: th remaining? c mbos 1d out of; the? combiistionfidhiainberandthe a iate'd conduit sr 'rhe'ij eans for accomplishingthi includes cuit whlichis formed' aisfollowsfpo "t; of the source" It, wires I6: and l I1, bridge;- I87; contact point I combustion-clincher 1 theretogtoglether with tlie u es i -fl At the ome time: that the ci'ij'oui t formedthrough the contact point H9; conductingupp'er positiomcol i'tac I09and 99 to gr' -oun'it I0, 'n

tive' terminal of the; source. 4 the-- above traced path w l i=1 andin a" pieueieimme a e W bi-niet-allic member II5 to break con contact point iI-eands'o cut-off oii'rr' motor I-0 whereupon the motor 7 i through duct; 5,- nc aukiliary'hea ized, then the electromagneticvalve magnetic valve fit depends" upon the closing of" the contact in the thermostat 5'0 andthis-contact will not close unless heat reaches-the thermostat and if no air is flowing in" duct-Sat the the auxiliary heater" in; isenergiz' will not-becomeheated. Furth chimney eifect,=the"heatirom 40 will rise and g'o' ing up through the-duct 5 n thereversedirection will: heat the thermostat ['20 all'dfCallseft-he cir time. when i thermostat 50- cuit' to open therethrough, thereby shutting off the flow of current to the auxiliary heating coil 40}. or course, after coil 40' is tie-energized, the

thermostat I20' wi1l also cool ari'd a' circuit there-I through. will again be? closed and they auxiliary heating coil again heated and so, on; magneticvalvelififlwill not be energized fuel will be supplied through pipe- 30; H0 ever,

unless a current o'f air is flowing through-the quot 5" inthe proper direction.

It is tobe Observed that com ared the" Slitrounding atmospheric pressure the pressure in d the atmospheric so that any danger whatever of com- {cont-act? 3, wire H8,

h j fl ie s'ehe I GIi-will not be energized, because theenergization of electro- Electra r named mansl bustion products leaking into theduct supplying the heated airto the space I4 entirely} avoided. Y

Itisalso to bje observ'ed :11 t afterthe device I is in operation the air drawngthroughoduct'i is,"

heated, because that duct passes through chamber and so the auxiliary heater. is only needed tostart the "device; Furthermore while thermostat is initially'fc'losed by heat from 'thecoil up, it is maintained closedb'y thenairdrawn through duct- 5 and heated therein .byi the combustion.

,Al though lnhave particularly described onei particular, physical embodiment of, m invention.

. and explained the operation, 1. construction l and principle thereofflnevertheless,I desireto have I it understood; 18 theQ'formfsl'eoted merely illustrative butjd'oes. not x austtne possible li v, lying my inv'eht on.

what'lclaim 'a s' new and a'su' to secure 20 wa te fi ft fi i i te s; n 1" Ahe te ncluding, in combination'i, a heat.

heat exchange relation. to said first mentioned duct' wlie're x combustion chamber communicating l embo'd ment of idea of means under,-;..

exchange Hattie combustion air inlet duct in by air passing therethrough may be d,ihatexchapseduct; means in said cornbustibnf air"inlet duct for vaporizing liquid; fueltherein;; means,insaid combustion air inlet ductibetwen the means forrvaporizing and the I inlet j adapted "tojs'upply heat;. means governed:

3o e temperatures; the air passing through saicf conibu'stion'air forgdverning said last jganied'r'ne ns' Zmeans for ,at times preventing: .e

the e t i means forsupplying' liquid fuel to the first mentioned means meansfor igniting vaporized fuel erg 'zation" of saidQsecond named means;

in the combustion oharnben and means creating a new; of air fro'r'n atmosphere through said com:

bustion air-inlet duct-, sai d combustion chamber, a'ndi'saidjhat exchange duct; to atmosphere.

2; Khelater, including, in combination: a heat exchange duct; ,a combustion, ,air inlet duct in heat exchange relation to said first -mentionedductgwherebv' a ir passing therethrough may be heated; a combustioh chamber communicating with, said heatle'xchange duct; means in said come bustion air inlet ductforvaporizing liquid fuel therein means governed by; the temperature in thecomhustion'fair inlet duct on the far sideof thevaporizer froni th einletfor supplying liquid fuel IO: the last mentioned means; means for lig- I niting' vaporized fuel in the combustion chamber; 1' means c'reatihgfia flow of, air f rom atmosphere through said combustion airinlet duct,said combustion chamben'iand said heat exchange-- duct".

to atmospherei means allowing the supply ofliq uid fuel t'o continue; fora prcdeterminedtime only';"and means adjacent to the discharge to atmospheracontrolling a continued supply of-liqev. uid fuel, inf'cooperationwith the second aboveaaaaaoa fuel to the means in said combustion air inlet duct for vaporizing liquid fuel, said duct includinga pump therein for pumping the fuel, a restricted orifice for restricting the flow of fuel and an electromagnetically operated valve, closed when tie-energized for completely obstructing the fiow of fuel in said duct; an electric heater in saidcombustion air inlet duct positioned between the inlet to said duct and the means for vaporizing liquid fuel therein; a thermostat positioned in said combustion air inlet duct between said means for vaporizing said fuel and said combustionchamber, said thermostat adapted to complete a circuit therethrough when warmed to a predetermined temperature; means forenergizing said: electric heating coil and means controlled by said thermostat for energizing said electromagnetic valve controlling the fuel flow.

4. A heater, including, in combination: a heat exchange duct; a combustion air inlet duct in heat exchange relation to said first mentioned duct whereby air passing therethrough may be heated; a combustion chamber communicating with said heat exchange duct; means in said combustion air inlet duct for vaporizing the liquid fuel therein; means for igniting vaporized fuel in the combustion chamber means creating a flow of airfrom atmosphere through said combustion air inlet'duct, said combustion chamber and said heatexchange duct to atmosphere; 9, supply of liquid fuel; a duct extending from said supply of liquid fuel to the means in said combustion air inlet duct for vaporizing liquid fuel, said duct including a pump therein for pumping the fluid,

a restricted orifice for restricting the flow of fuel and an electromagnetically operated valve, closed when de-energized, for completely obstructing the flow, of fuel in said duct; an electric heater positioned in said combustion air inlet duct between the inlet to said duct and the means for vaporizing liquid fuel therein; a thermostat positioned in said combustion air inlet duct between said means for vaporizing said fuel and said combustion chamber, said thermostat adapted to complete a circuit therethrough when warmed to a predetermined temperature; means for energizing said electric heating coil and means controlled by said thermostat for energizingsaid electromagnetic valve controlling the fuel flow; and means operable after a predetermined time for preventing said thermostat from controlling the fuel supply.

5. A heater, including, in combination: a heat exchange duct; a combustion air inlet duct in heatexchange relation to said first mentioned duct whereby air passing therethrough may be heated; a combustion chamber communicating 3. A heater, including, in combination: a heat exchangeduct; a combustion air inlet duct in heat 1 exchange relation to said first'men'tioned duct whereby an passing therethrough may be heated;

a combustion chamber communicating with said heatexchange duct; means'in said combustion air inlet duct forv'aporizing the liquid fuel therea in; meansfor ignitingvaporized fuel in the combustion chamber: means creatinga flow of air from atmosphere through said combustion air inlet duct, said'com'bustion chamber and said heat exchange duct to atmosphere; a supply ofliquid fuel; a duct extending from said supply of liquid with said heat exchange duct; means in said combustion .air inlet duct for vaporizing the liquid fuel therein; means for igniting vaporized fuel in the combustion chamber; means creating a flow of air from atmosphere through said combustion air inlet duct, said combustion chambet and said heat exchange duct to atmosphere; a supply of liquid fuel; a duct extending from said supply of liquid fuel to the means in said combustion air inlet duct for vaporizing liquid fuel, said-duct including a pump therein for pumping the fluid, a restricted orifice for restricting the flow of fuel and an electromagnetically operated valve closed when de-energized for completely obstructing the flow of fuel in said duct; an electric heater positioned in said combustion air inlet duct between the inlet to said duct and means for vaporizing said fuel and said combustion chamber, said thermostat adapted to complete a circuit therethrough when warmed to a predetermined temperature; means fuel vaporizer and a second thermostat positioned in said air duct in the order stated, the last mentioned thermostat being closest to the combustion chamber; means including said first mentioned thermostat for controlling a flow of current through said electric heater, said first mentioned thermostat adapted to close a circuit therethrough only when not above a predetermined temperature; means controlled by said second thermostat for supplying fuel to said vaporizer, said second mentioned thermostat adapted to close a circuit therethrough only when not below a predetermined temperature; and means for inducing a flow of' air through said air duct and means for utilizing the heat generated by the combustion of said liquid fuel.

FREDERICK KUNST VAN ALMELO. 

